Heavy smoking

This study is conducted to observe the serum lipoprotein in chronic heavy smokers in LUMHS Sindh. Analytical study. It was conducted on 60 non obese adult smokers, both sexes, who smoked more than twenty cigarettes or beeries a day regularly fro more than five years. All the participants were current smokers. Sampling technique was simple random technique. The study was conducted in outdoor department of LUMHS Jamshoro/ Hyderabad. Jan 2010 to Jan 2011, Eighteen hours fasting blood sample was sent for lipid studies. Lipid studied were serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, high density lipoproteins and low density lipoproteins. For control values ATP3 guidelines were used. Mean of statistical values was 25-70 years. Mean age was 47.81 +/- 12.96 years. Median age was 50 years. Male/female ratio was 45/15. Patients were from both rural and urban area. Mean duration of smoking was 25.5 +/- 9.15 years. The study carried out on 60 chronic heavy smokers, showed deranged lipid levels as: Total cholesterol mean 237.57 mg/dl +/- 37.89; TG mean 203.76 mg/dl +/- 47.08; LDL-C mean 158.62 mg/dl +/- 17.25; HDL-C mean 29.67 mg/dl +/- 3.12. Results are shown in Table No I. Our study conducted at LUMHS showed that by continuous heavy smoking the serum lipid levels get deranged

Hypertension knowledge, attitude and practice in adult hypertensive patients at LUMHS

Objective: to study the knowledge, attitude and practice about hypertension in adult hypertensive patients at LUMHS

Methodology: the prospective and descriptive, study was carried out on one thousand diagnosed hypertensive patients from Jan 2010 to Sep 2010 at medical outdoor department of LUMHS. Appointed medical persons questioned the patients assessing various factors as lifestyle and risk factors. The special case sheets were prepared, containing all the information as name, age, sex, address, family history, personal history, marital status of the patients. Case sheets were containing special questionnaire to study the knowledge about hypertension, its control and complications. Results were analyzed by SPSS 10

Results: the age of patients ranged from 19 years to 95 years with mean age of 50.5 years and median age of 47.5 years. Forty eight percent patients belonged to grade 1 education grade, thirty two percent belonged to grade 2, thirteen percent belonged to grade 3, and seven percent belonged to grade 4. Ten percent patients can explain the hypertension, mostly in higher education grade. Seventy six percent patients can tell that salt is not good for hypertension. Twenty two percent patients had good compliance about the drugs. Fifty percent can say good control is advantageous for health. Six percent have knowledge about complications. The education grades and result of questionnaire is shown in Table I

Conclusion: our study concludes that a significant proportion of hypertensive patients have poor knowledge about hypertension

Platelet count in Malaria patients

Malaria is a major health problem in the tropics with high morbidity and mortality. This study is conducted to analyse the effects of malaria on platelets. This prospective study was conducted on 200 diagnosed cases of malaria in Department of Medicine, LUMHS, Jamshoro/Hyderabad from February to December 2010. The diagnosis of malaria was carried out by thin and thick blood films. Platelet count was performed using an automated counter. Thrombocytopenia was classified as mild [50-150x10[3] cells/microl], moderate [20-50x10[3] cells/microl] and severe [<20x10[3] cell/microl]. The age of patients ranged from 16 to 80 [28 +/- 10.5] years, median age was 30 years. Among the study population, males were 124 [62%] and females were 76 [38%]. Out of them 105 [52.5%] were cases of Plasmodium falciparum, 93 [46.5%] were of P. vivax, and 2 [1%] were of P. malaria. The data showed that 171 [85.5%] patients were having low platelet count; 141 [70.5%] had mild, 21 [10.5%] moderate, and 9 [4.5%] had severe thrombocytopenia. Twenty-nine [14.5%] patients had normal platelet count. Malaria is associated with different degrees of low platelet count with rarely increased bleeding tendency

Frequency of control of blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at tertiary medical care unit

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a medical disorder characterized by varying or persistent hyperglycemia resulting from the defective secretion or action of the insulin. As the serious complications of diabetes mellitus are associated with control and duration of the disease, so this study was planned to observe the frequency of control of blood glucose in patients with diabetes mellitus. Design: A descriptive study Setting: This study was designed at Mohammad Medical College Mirpurkhas Sind. Patients were collected in months of Jan-Mar 2008 in a weekly blood sugar camp arranged at MMC hospital

Methods: Five hundred diagnosed patients of Type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this study. Their parameters were recorded in detail on pre-designed proforma. Control of blood sugar was evaluated by fasting blood sugar, 2 hours postprandial blood sugar, urine detailed report and hemoglobin A1C

Results: Majority of patients had unacceptable control of diabetes mellitus. Three hundred and sixty-six [73.2%] patients had poor control of blood glucose, while only 134[26.8%] patients had acceptable control of blood glucose

Conclusion: This study proved that control of blood glucose remained poor, i.e. 73.2% patients remained uncontrolled even after attempts to treat the disease; it shows that because of this poor control of blood glucose huge number of patients in future will land up with serious complications. Huge number [93.2%] patients had no knowledge about the disease